Fuse arrangement for electric wall outlets



Aug. 7, 1951 J. s. RICHARD ETAL FUSE ARRANGEMENT FOR ELECTRIC WALLOUTLETS Filed Sept. 8, 1949 Patented Aug. 7, 1951 FUSE ARRANGEMENT FORELECTRIC WALL OUTLETS' John S. Richard and Carl Youngquist, Brooklyn,

N. Y.; Geraldine Youngquist administratrix oilY said Carl Youngquist,deceased Application September 8, 1949, Serial No. 114,496

This invention relates to electric wall receptacles or outlets and moreparticularly to a fuse arrangement therefor.

It is one of the objects of the invention to provide means facilitatingready access to and operation of the fuse arrangement in electric wallreceptacles and affording an increased safety in handling suchreceptacles, whether they are of the single or double outlet type.

It is another object of the present invention to provide means ensuringeasy and convenient insertion of a fuse arrangement in an electric wallreceptacle and for removal therefrom, said fuse arrangement being soconstructed as to establish contact only after an extreme position inthe receptacle is reached.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide in a wallreceptacle a fuse device or unit which will consume little space, ac-

- cess being had to the fuse at the location of the receptacle withouthaving to reach for the fuse box located elsewhere and in anout-of-the-way place in the premises and wherein each receptacle in thehousehold will contain its own fuse.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide in a wallreceptacle an arrangement for containing a cartridge type fuse which isplaced in a sleeve member extending parallel to the prongs of the plugto be inserted in the receptacle, said sleeve member substantially notinterfering with the plug, so that a new cartridge can be received andintroduced in the body of the wall receptacle as a unit independently ofthe insertion of the plug in the wall receptacle.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a wall receptaclewith fuse arrangement which is of simple construction, inexpensive tomanufacture, has a minimum number oi parts, is compact and consumeslittle space, wherein a single fuse may serve two outlets forming a partof the same receptacle, is convenient to replace and eiiicient inoperation.

Further objects and for a better understanding of the inventionreference may be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing in which: 'f

Fig. 1 is a front plan view of the receptacle embodying features of thepresent invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the receptacle taken on line 2-2of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows thereof.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 but with the fuse partlyretracted from the body of the receptacle.

Fig. 4 is a skeletonized view showing the wire hook-up therefor.

2 claims. (C1. 20o-115.5) Y

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary and sectional view of a modied form of theinvention using a lamp indicatorvto indicate whether or not the fuse hasbeen blown.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, there is shown a mainbody II) of the receptacle or casing having two plug receiving portionsII and l2. Extending from these plug receiving portions are respectivelyslotted projections I3 and I4 iorthe connection of the receptacle bodywithin the wall casing, not shown. Each of the portions Il and I2 have apair of laterally spaced slots I5 and I6 adapted to receive the prongsof an electric plug on the end of a lamp cord or the cord of some otherdevice. Extending between the slots I5 is a terminal strip II. Extendingbetween the slots I6 is a terminal strip I8 having an outwardly struckportion I9 intermediate its length thereof (Fig. l).

Extending rearwardly from and centrally of the main casing or body Il!is an extension casing or hollow projection 2I of insulating materialwhich is preferably integral with the body to thereby form a T-shapedhousing. On one end of the extension casing is a terminal strip 22having a terminal screw 23 by which a wire can be connected thereto.This strip 22 has a cupshaped member 24 connected thereto and adapted toextend into the sleeve projection opening. This member 24 houses acontact spring'25 connected to the same with which a terminal 26 of acartridge fuse 21 may engage. The opposite terminal as indicated at 2Bof the fuse 2'I is contained in a cap or cup-shaped member 29articulated and fixed to a metallic threaded member 3I and adapted toreceive the fuse and to pull the-fuse from the contact spring 25 uponthe threaded member 3| being turned for disengagement from thereceptacle. The threaded member has an insulated turning knob 32 Whileits main part is of metal so as to conduct electric current to the fuse21. Within the main body IIJ is an integral depressed insulated portion33 which contains an internally threaded metal ring v34 which receivesthe threaded member 3|. This insulated depressed portion 33 is cut awayas indicated at 35 (Fig. l) to permit the terminal strip lI to havedirect contact with the exterior of the internally threaded ring 34 andto be secured thereto by a set screw 36. A terminal screw 31 isconnected to the offset portion I9 oi'theterminal strip I8 and to thisterminal strip there is connected by means of the screw 3l one of thewires for supplying current to the receptacle. Unless the member 3l isscrewed home. no contact is made of the fuse tially ush with the frontface of casing IIJ, aS.

seen in Fig. 2) current will be receptacle. In the form of the inventionshown in Fig.`

passed" through the" the body lli is similarly constructed and is proavided with the usual sleeve projection t avd'gtnf 1 associated partsthereof. According to thisffeirnv f of the invention a lamp 39 isprovided to give an indication as to whether or net vthe fise has beenblown. The fuse 2i 'has its terminal 2 lying in l an insulating sleeve Mand engages with the end' of the lamp bulb as indicated at 4 2. The lampbein istiireadedjintoja meta ring t3 which ccntairis trie insulatedsleek/eral. on the other end of this sleeve there is tight fitted, aninsulating hollow knob de. The threaded sleeve" is' held' in place inthe body by an internal threaded metal ring l5 imbedded in the depressedins'iilated poi'- tieii se. By turning the insulating knob lit.r theentire yassei'njely iiiludig the larnp bulb and the fufse 2 can' be'removed fromth'e receptacle bo'dy'; The terminal strips Il and I8 aresimilarly connected t'o` the inetal threaded Vring d3' and to terminalwires ieade from the receptacle. Whenthe lamp bulb BQfail's' t glow,`this will' bean indication that the insenas been' blown. AcYe cordinglythe assembly' will be removed and the fuse element' 2l replaced' in thesaine manner as above described. v

It wiu be apparent that' the arrangement be constructed so that a doubleset 6i' fuse wires can be provided in a single fuse unit or' cartridgefuse in order to separately serve tw diiferent plugs. In all thesecases,the' fuse unit' always extends parallel to the prongs oi" the plug' orplugs '4 trally and rearwardly thereof, whereby a shaped housing isachieved with the prongs of said plug means when inserted in saidopenings extending substantially in the same direction as that of saidextension casing, a rst terminal strip leading 'to one of the openingsof each pair of penings, 'a second terminal strip leading to the otheropening of each pair of openings, a terminal element connected to saidrst terminal strip, a `threaded metal rin-g member inserted inv saidmain casing and coaxial with said extension casing and ,connected to thesecond terminal strip, a

lthre'ade'dl'r'iietal member having an insulated knob at one endV andracup-shaped metal member at the'pposite end, saidy cup-shaped memberbeing s'lfiapecl te engage with one end of a fuse, a spring Contactsupported by said extension casing and adapted to contact with the otherend of said .stahti'ally right 'angles to and 'positioned to projectfrom said main casing rearwardly thereof 'and 'substantially parallel tothe prongs er" the .plug when inserted iii said openings, said maincasing being'prvided with a bore which is positioned 'adjacent said twofopen'ings and "cinnznunie to be inserted.A in openings I5, I6 ofreceptacle b. .i

'and a dp-shaped metallic member at the opparts Il, l2. The elongatedfuse unit 3D' is' posi--y tioned intermediate the receptacle p'r'tios"[i and l2- and preferably does not interfere with the operation of theplug or plugs (not sliewn) as may be easily realizedfromthe drawingA` Itis to be noted'that signal or pilot light` B, whichmay also serve as anemergency light',y can be arranged sogas to signal Ato the operator onlyif and when a fuse has been blown.

It is further contemplated by this invention to operate the readilyremovable fuse unitv as a safety key or device which willonly beinserted; in the receptacle when same-Visto be used. K a

While various changes may be made in' the lcates with said hollowextension casing, a fiirst terminal strip leading to `one of saidopenings, a second terinih'al Strp'lea'ding to the therop'en; ig, a'terminal elerfientt connected to 4said first terminal Strip, a threadedmetal ring member nhectedtofsai'd second terminal strip and dise posedin said bore of -said main casing and coaxial with 'said eir'teiisiiicasing, a threaded metal member having an insulated knob at one "en'dp'site end, 's'ad cup-shaped member being adapted to receive one enc 'ora fuse, a springeontaetarrangeti iii said hollow extension atie forcontact with 'trie 'other end or said iii-seither sare detailedconstruction, it shall be understood that J1-4 iii? ' threatie member isinserted through said here threaded engagement with said threaded'rin'gmember, whereby said knob ei'i'terids iht said boreand becomes'substantially with 'said iront face, said spring contact including a'tferin'i-Y .nal element for connection by means 'of said .fuse withsaid second terminal strip. u y Gier Sf RICHARD.

CARL YOUNGQUIST.

t .RE'FRNS CTED b The following references Iare of record in vthe fileof this patent: 'UNITE-D STATES PATENTS Number

